Nigeria’s ginger export industry is positioning for a rebound from 2026, supported by renewed international partnerships, fresh investment, and improved security in key producing regions.

The recovery comes as the global ginger market is projected to grow from $4.41 billion to $7.5 billion by 2033, driven by rising demand in food, beverages, health supplements, and natural remedies.

Nigeria ranks among the world’s top three ginger producers, with annual output estimated between 726,000 and 781,000 metric tons from 2021 to 2023.

However, the sector suffered a major setback in 2023 after a fungal outbreak, widely known as ginger blight, wiped out over 90 percent of farms in major producing states including Kaduna, Plateau, and Nasarawa. As a result, ginger exports fell by 74 percent in the first nine months of 2024.

Industry stakeholders say the sector is now entering a transformation phase aimed at restoring Nigeria’s position as a leading supplier of high-quality, high-pungency ginger.

A key driver is the Nigeria Ginger Sustainability Program, a partnership between the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and the Netherlands’ Centre for the Promotion of Imports, which is providing export coaching and compliance training to selected small and medium-sized enterprises.

The Federal Government has also launched the Ginger Recovery Advancement and Transformation for Economic Empowerment initiative, backed by a 1.6 billion Naira (Nigerian currency) intervention fund.

The program targets the rehabilitation of about 15,000 farmers across the worst-hit states, with officials hopeful that improved yields and stronger export standards will allow Nigeria to capture a larger share of the expanding global ginger market.

Nigeria's herbs and spices sector is significant, with major production of ginger (Africa's largest producer), chili, and wild-harvested indigenous spices like African nutmeg, though challenges exist with domestication and processing for export, despite strong local demand and potential for growth, especially in high-value ginger exports to Europe.

The market is expanding, driven by both local culinary needs and international demand for quality, high-oil content spices, with key growing areas in the North (ginger) and South (forest spices).